LK-1

LK-1

Manufacturer	OKB-52
Country of origin	Soviet Union
Operator	Soviet space program
Applications	Carry cosmonauts around the Moon and back to Earth
Production
Status	Canceled
Related spacecraft
Derivatives	LK-700, TKS spacecraft

LK-1 was a projected Soviet manned lunar flyby spacecraft. The project started in 1962, with the lead engineer being Vladimir Chelomey.

The LK-1 had its origin in several early 1960s spacecraft projects under the generic names of kosmoplans and raketoplans.

It would be launched on a three-stage Proton launch vehicle. The first flight was planned for 1967.

In 1965 the project was cancelled in favour of the Soyuz 7K-L1 spacecraft.

Further developments came as the LK-700 direct-descent lunar lander program.

Configuration

An drawing of a VA spacecraft: The VA capsule is on the lower right, while the braking engines are located on top of the long "nose section". The launch escape system (not shown) would have been attached on top of the nose section.

The spacecraft consisted of the following modules:

• ADU Emergency Engine Unit
• VA Capsule (crew module)
• PAB Equipment-Rocket System Block (service module)
• RB Translunar Injection Stage

Characteristics

• Crew Size: 2
• Spacecraft delta v: 3,300 m/s
• Electric System: 2.00 average kW.
• Gross mass: 17,000 kg
• Un-fuelled mass: 4,000 kg
• Height: 5.20 m
• Span: 7.27 m

External links

• Encyclopedia Astronautica:
  • LK-1, with an image of an assembled translunar spacecraft